Oil rig Orion went aground on the north west shore of Guernsey on February I .

On Friday February 10 it was thought she was adrift: in fact, she had parted from her barge, which had sunk, but was still held aground by her legs. Her salvage crew of six were at considerable risk as the rig might have become unstable, so The John Gellatly Hyndman, the 52ft relief Barnett lifeboat on temporary duty at St Peter Port, launchedto take them off. The wind was east north east strong gale force 9 and the sea was very rough; it was one hour before high water, top of springs. The weather was overcast with snow flurries.

The six men were safely taken off.

photograph by courtesy of Brian Green.